Topic: Mall Of America

The authors of the book *Santa's Husband* discuss their inspiration, which began as a joke on Twitter following the Mall of America's hiring of a Black Santa Claus. The book depicts Santa as a Black gay man married to a white husband. The hosts discuss the erasure of Mrs. Claus in this new narrative and the public's reaction to the cultural shift.

A 1991 commercial for Sam Goody Musicland was filmed at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, featuring a "Spinal Tap" inspired tour theme. The VJ involved received a $5,000 buyout for the performance, which is now viewed as a dated artifact of early 90s music retail marketing. The store was once the largest music retailer in the world before the company's eventual decline.

A new children's book titled "Santa's Husband" by Daniel Kibblesmith features a gay, interracial couple where Santa is black and his husband is white. The book was inspired by the 2016 controversy surrounding the Mall of America hiring its first black Santa Claus. The narrative replaces the traditional Mrs. Claus figure, sparking discussion on the transformation of holiday traditions.

Black Lives Matter activists in Minnesota shut down sections of the Minneapolis airport and the Mall of America to protest police brutality. The hosts question why "rising Islamophobia" was included in the protest's stated goals. They speculate on a potential merger between the Black Lives Matter movement and Islamic advocacy groups, possibly involving the Nation of Islam.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson addressed the potential defunding of the Department of Homeland Security as a midnight deadline approached in Congress. Media reports highlighted the possibility of 30,000 employees being furloughed if a budget impasse between the White House and Republicans was not resolved. The discussion focuses on the political use of terror threats at the Mall of America to influence the funding debate.

Secretary Jeh Johnson emphasized the importance of public vigilance through the "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign during interviews regarding mall security. Despite the Secretary's attempts to encourage shopping, his warnings for citizens to be "particularly careful" at the Mall of America created public confusion. The hosts critique the delivery of the safety message and the lack of a catchy jingle for the revamped campaign.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest attempted to downplay terror threats against U.S. malls following a propaganda video released by Al-Shabaab in Africa. Earnest reiterated that the intelligence community was not aware of any specific, credible plots against the Mall of America despite Secretary Jeh Johnson's earlier cautionary statements. The discrepancy between the White House and DHS messaging is analyzed as a communication failure.

The Westgate attack has sparked fears of similar incidents at U.S. locations like the Mall of America. The hosts argue that while metal detectors and guards may be implemented, they are largely ineffective against determined attackers. Instead, these measures serve to keep the public in a "perpetual state of fear" and normalize "lockdown" culture.

DHS is expanding its focus to "soft targets" such as shopping malls, hotels, and sporting events. Janet Napolitano mentions meetings with professional sports commissioners and the NCAA to discuss security measures. The hosts suggest this is a precursor to installing body scanners in non-airport locations.

A host announces they will host the "Rally for the Republic" in Minneapolis, an alternative convention organized by Ron Paul supporters. This leads to an anecdote about a previous trip to Minneapolis to film a commercial at the Mall of America, which resulted in an invitation to a private party at Prince's Paisley Park estate. The host describes meeting Prince and the unique security and atmosphere of the event.